The Rockets have acquired forwards Jackie Butler and Luis Scola from the Spurs for point guard Vassilis Spanoulis and a 2nd round pick in 2009. Butler hasn’t gotten much of a chance to show what he can do in the NBA yet. He played in 11 games (2 starts) last season for the Spurs and he averaged 9.4 minutes, 3.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. He shot well as he hit 45.7% from the floor and 90% from the free throw line. Butler has played in 69 NBA games (2 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 12.3 minutes, 5.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. He has made 53.9% of his shots from the floor over his NBA career and 77.5% of his free throws. Scola is a 6’9″, 230 pound power forward who was drafted by the Spurs in 2002. He has played overseas and has done well so the Rockets have high hopes for him.

The Houston Rockets are bringing back Stevie Francis for a return engagement. Francis began his career well with the Rockets before moving on. He played in 44 games (30 starts) for the Knicks and he averaged 28.1 minutes, 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 0.9 steals per game. He shot 40.8% from the floor, 37.8% from three point range and 82.9% from the free throw line.

Francis has now played in 566 NBA games (540 starts) in his career and he has averaged 37.9 minutes, 18.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He has shot 42.9% from the floor, 34.3% from three point range and 79.9% from the free throw line. If Francis is healthy, which he wasn’t last season, he will help the Rockets at guard big-time.